20 Years of Painter's Way

The birth of today's Malerweg was on June 10, 2006. Manuel Andrack, then known as the co-host and sidekick of entertainer Harald Schmidt, praised the Saxon Switzerland in his book "Du musst wandern" and became an ambassador for the newly established Malerweg. It didn't take long before the Malerweg became a magnet for hikers from near and far. Thus, it is not surprising that just one year after its official opening, it secured second place in the "Hiking Destination of the Year" public vote in 2007, which attests to the hiking quality and unique natural experience.

To this day, 20 years later, the Malerweg is the hiking highlight of the region and has not lost its appeal. Quite the opposite: in the public vote for "Germany's Most Beautiful Hiking Trail 2023," the Malerweg achieved third place. This remarkable performance is owed to numerous volunteers, such as trail wardens who regularly check the paths and signage. Another clear advantage: with the guest card, the start and end points of the stages are accessible by bus and train at no extra cost. This allows for a central choice of accommodation while preserving nature. Because it is not the destination that is important, but the journey...and the Malerweg is an especially beautiful one. 

Since the mid-18th century, Saxon Switzerland with its unparalleled landscape has been a popular destination for painters. It began with Johann Alexander Thiele, a painter at the Dresden court of Augustus III and founder of the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. His baroque era was replaced in the 19th century by Romanticism, where emotion and passion dominated. In German painting, no one embodied this better than Caspar David Friedrich, who painted numerous works in Saxon Switzerland.

These are just two of the many artists who traveled on specific routes through the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in the 18th and 19th centuries and were continually inspired anew. With the construction of the railway and the emergence of new styles, these routes gradually faded into oblivion, until they were revived in the 20th century, initially as the Painter's Road and later as the Historical Painter's Path.

Today, hikers on the Painter's Path find glass information steles featuring famous paintings and sketches by historical artists. They invite comparisons between the artworks and today's view of nature. Even for modern artists, the Painter's Path remains an important source of inspiration with exhibitions and painting courses.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Malerweg, a photography competition will be held with two themes/categories: "The Malerweg through the Seasons" and "Historical Painter's Views - Then & Now". The competition invites you to discover the landscape along the Malerweg through photography. Both in its seasonal diversity and in dialogue with historical image perspectives.

The awarding of the works selected by the jury will take place during the 10th Globetrotter Hiking Days, on September 19, 2026. There will subsequently be an exhibition of the awarded photographs at the National Park Center Bad Schandau.

The photography competition is aimed at all photography enthusiasts and Malerweg hikers with a passion for photography.

The Regional Management Saxon Switzerland of the association "Landscaping Future" calls, in collaboration with the Saxon Switzerland Tourism Association e. V., for a creative competition: "20 Years of Painter's Path - We Make Our Bus Stops Eye-Catchers!" We are looking for creative ideas, designs, and concepts for the design and beautification of bus stops along the Painter's Path in the LEADER region of Saxon Switzerland.

This action aims to make the anniversary of the popular hiking trail visible in public spaces - at the places where locals and guests daily board, disembark, and linger.

Whether artistic designs, informative panels, landscape-inspired creations, or creative participatory activities - sustainable, original, and location-related contributions are sought that reflect the beauty of Saxon Switzerland and the significance of the Painter's Path. A jury will select the best ideas, which will then be awarded with the support of the initiators.

From March to October, special anniversary tours on the Malerweg invite you to discover the famous hiking trail from a new perspective. Once a month, each on a Sunday, a selected stage is explored together with expert guidance.  Each tour is accompanied by a representative of the Saxon Switzerland National Park and Forestry Administration. In addition, there are other participants who have significantly influenced the Malerweg or have accompanied its development over the years, providing exciting insights firsthand.

The anniversary tours are kindly supported by the East Saxon Savings Bank Dresden and the Saxon Switzerland National Park and Forestry Administration.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Painter's Way, a significant piece of art and cultural history returns to the public. In the special exhibition “Inspiration Painter's Way” at the Parkhotel Bad Schandau, selected reproductions of paintings, drawings, and sketches from the Hasse Foundation will be displayed from April 17, 2026, whose motifs can be found along the Painter's Way. Additionally, the exhibition features an exclusive selection of contemporary works by regional female artists - Claudia Pinkau & Heike Küchler (Galeriewerkstatt Ansichtssache) as well as Andrea Molière (Molière artdesign) - thus bridging the gap between historical and modern interpretations.

The collection founded by Ursula and Dietrich Hasse comprises around 500 sheets from the 15th to the 20th century, including works by well-known artists such as Johann Alexander Thiele, Canaletto, and Adrian Zingg. Many views are located directly along the route and clearly demonstrate how closely art, landscape, and the tourism development of the Saxon Switzerland are intertwined.

Admission free
daily from 10 AM to 5 PM at Parkhotel Bad Schandau

The Painter's Path is suitable for multi-day hikes, day trips, and winter walks. Many sections are accessible and offer an inclusive nature experience. A selection of accessible tours along the Painter's Path can be found here.

The current Painter's Path largely follows its historical route. However, in the past, the route extended beyond state borders: Painters and early travelers took the old Foreigners' Path from Saxon Switzerland over the Kleine and Große Winterberg to the Prebischtor (Pravčická brána) in Bohemian Switzerland and then descended to Herrnskretschen (Hřensko). From there, they returned by boat down the Elbe River.

Today, between the Große Winterberg and the Prebischtor lies the core zone of the Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland National Parks, a sensitive and protected nature reserve. Since the completion of the 5th stage in 2026, it has been possible once again to undertake a day tour to the Prebischtor via the newly established cross-border hiking trail between Schmilka and Herrnskretschen (Hřensko). Thus, the historical Painter's Path is revived.

Tip: It's best to book 2 nights in Schmilka to hike the historical Painter's Path to the Prebischtor.

Whether the Malerweg is passable in winter depends on the weather conditions. The highest mountain on the Malerweg is called Großer Winterberg. Even though the name might suggest otherwise, at 556 meters high, there is not necessarily snow guaranteed in winter. As a general rule: if there is snow across Germany, then there will be snow on the Malerweg as well.

Basically, all hiking trails in Saxon Switzerland are accessible year-round. Caution is advised with heavy snow, snowdrifts, and black ice. The Aktivzentrum Bad Schandau sells crampons (anti-slip spikes), hiking boots, backpacks, and other equipment. Perfect for starting a Malerweg adventure in winter.

Is the Malerweg too challenging in winter? Then we recommend the 20 most beautiful winter walks on the Malerweg. These are delightful short tours along the Malerweg route. With lengths of about 2-7 kilometers and walking times of a maximum of 2:45 hours, the walks lead directly to the highlights of the individual Malerweg stages.